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British private served with 1st Bn Royal Sussex Regt in GB, Palestine and Egypt, 1935-1940

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REEL 1 Background in GB, 1915-1934: family; education. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Sussex Regt Depot, Chichester in GB, 1934-1935: enlistment; instilling of discipline. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Royal Sussex Regt in GB, 1935: lack of money for social life; description of 1908 pattern equipment; reaction of troops to high standard of cleaning and discipline; privileges granted for gaining educational and proficiency certificates. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Royal Sussex Regt in GB, 1935-1936: organisation of overseas draft.
REEL 2 Continues: descriptions of khaki drill, tropical uniform and topees issued for overseas service; use of normal khaki uniform for Middle East service; suitability of clothing and equipment. Recollections of period as private with 1st Bn Royal Sussex Regt in Palestine, 1936-1937: voyage from GB to Palestine, 12/1936; reaction to Abdication Crisis, 12/1936; swearing allegiance to monarch; reaction to posting; tours of religious sites; memories of commanding officer; family’s reactions to his posting; information provided on Palestine by army; initial impressions of Port Said, Egypt during transit.
REEL 3 Continues: disembarkation at Port Said, Egypt and train journey to Jerusalem; description of Talavera Barracks; re-equipping with Bren Guns; description of 1938 pattern equipment; re-organisation of battalion structure; comparison between 1908 and 1938 pattern equipment; celebration of Coronation Day, 12/5/1937; respect shown to British troops; question of treatment of barrack servants in India; impressions of Palestine; contrast in enterprise shown by Jewish civilians to Arab civilians; recreational activities and training.
REEL 4 Continues: organisation of battalion sports; recreational facilities and occupation; further derails of Talavera Barracks; state of troops’ health; social isolation of British troops; duties as officer’s servant; reasons for refusing promotion; privileges as officer’s servant; daily routine and responsibilities.
REEL 5 Continues: duties of officers’ servants; officer’s mess uniform; mess guest nights; discipline and how it relaxed during Second World War; replacement of older officers with approach of Second World War; routine military duties of officers’ servants; close relationships with troops; replacement of Lewis Gun with Bren Gun; fire and movement tactics; introduction of Boys Anti-Tank Rifle; opinion of Lee-Enfield Rifle; bayonet training; weapons training; anti-insurgent training; training with grenades; patrolling activities; efforts to capture Mufti of Jerusalem; raids on Arab villages.
REEL 6 Continues: shooting incidents and troops’ reaction; relations with Palestine Police. Recollections of period as private with 1st Bn Royal Sussex Regt in Egypt, 1937-1940: posting to Ismailia, 12/1937; character of Moascar Camp and its facilties; off duty activities; married accommodation and wives’ participation in garrison life; occasional fights amongst troops; venereal disease rate; visits to Cairo; relations with Egyptians; leave in Alexandria; state of troops’ health; routine and training in Egypt; degree of threat from Italians; security precautions; presence of Egyptians in Moascar Camp.
REEL 7 Continues: lack of overseas allowance and proficiency pay; anticipation of approaching war; ‘standing to’ to counter Italian troopships taking passage through Suez Canal; mobilisation and preparations, 1939; pattern of subsequent career; anticipation of war; degree to which British Army was prepared for war; opinion of Italian threat and British and Egyptian forces to countering it; stationing at Port Tewfiq; role of British in Middle East and British Army in Palestine; sources of troops’ information on current affairs.

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